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President Thomas Jefferson refused to pay an annual tribute to the Muslim Ottoman Pirates roaming our trade routes, recognizing that if the United States was to be a trading country, “this will require a protecting force on the sea. Otherwise the smallest powers in Europe, every one which possesses a single ship of the line may dictate to us, and enforce their demands by captures on our commerce. Some naval force then is necessary if we mean to be commercial.” The two Barbary Wars during Jefferson’s and Madison’s presidencies, respectively, were waged May 10, 1801 – June 10, 1805 and June 17–19, 1815.
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